I am going to go out and say it- all you people who think you "can't" run or "don't like it" are full of crap. Yes, that's right. I said it. And I can because I used to be one of you. If I had to run for exercise when I was younger it had to be because I was chasing a soccer ball or running from something. I *hated* running. I wasn't fast and it made me tired. Oh, how times have changed.
I love it now.
I have talked numerous times about how I enjoy running now, but it is evolving into something more than just a tolerable way to exercise. I look forward to it now; I yearn to run, I don't like going to the gym anymore, I want to be outside, I want to zone out with my ipod and a road in front of me. It is my new religion.
It has taken a long time to get year. Four years, to be exact. I began running in college because everyone at UVA did, and then the only way I could get myself to run was as training for something. So I trained for a few races. I didn't like it, but did it because I had a goal. Then I signed up for more races and got better. Then I didn't need races to make myself run. Now I barely go to the gym because I run 3-4 days a week.
Running gives me time to think. I sort things out in my head. I get perspective on life. I set goals for myself. I listen to great music and take in gorgeous views. When I am done running I have more than euphoria, I have peace and serenity and clarity. Life makes more sense after I run.
That is not to say that I love it everyday. Some days are harder than others, and I still HATE running in extreme weather (any temp above 75 or below 35), but when the weather is perfect and I feel good, running is the closest thing to a religious experience than church ever was. And I think that's ok- spirituality can manifest itself in different forms in different people. When some people go to church on Sunday, I run, and that's more than a lot of "religious" people do.
So I call all of you out who think you can't run. You just need time- it took me years- but now the physical AND mental benefits are better than anything I have ever experienced. So stop complaining and commit yourself to running.
